Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a popular public cloud provider because of its flexibility, comprehensive service offerings, and robust documentation, including:

• Virtual machines

• Scalable storage

• Machine learning and AI pipelines

• Security, compliance, and identity management

Available Tutorials

AWS has extensive online documentation for all of its services. Several tutorials are available here focused on specific research-related tasks:

• Creating an Amazon S3 bucket

• Creating Amazon S3 Access Keys

• Archiving Data in Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive

Requesting an AWS Account

Northwestern provides access to AWS via two agreements, Internet2 NET+ and NIH Strides, that have different eligibility requirements and benefits.

	Internet2 NET+	NIH Strides
Eligibility	All Northwestern researchers	NIH-funded and Feinberg-affiliated research projects
Direct billing to blanket purchase orders in NUFinancials	Included	Included
Storage Service Discounts	4.5%	14% (excluding Glacier Deep Archive)
Discounts on all other services	4.5%	9% (excluding Marketplace)
Egress fees	Waived for most applications	Waived for most applications
Access to AWS Enterprise Support	Not included	Free

To take advantage of these benefits, create a new Northwestern-affiliated Amazon Web Services (AWS) account or transfer an existing cloud account to Northwestern:

1. Obtain a Blanket Purchase Order (PO) that aligns with your estimated costs. If you’re not sure how to calculate your expected costs, request a cloud consultation .

2. Request a cloud account by filling out the Public Cloud Account Request form .

3. Finish setting up your account with the Northwestern IT Cloud Enablement Team by email. They will need the following information:

   • The chartstring associated with the Blanket PO

   • Confirmation of the purpose of your account

The Cloud Enablement Team will then provide you with an estimate from the vendor that manages billing for Northwestern cloud accounts that matches the PO.

When the account is approved and set up, you will receive an email on how to access your account.

Managing Access

When a Northwestern AWS account is created, the account owner and technical contact are given administrator permissions. These users can add others to the administrator group using the Cayosoft group management tool .

Logging in to the AWS Console

1. Go to the AWS Management console .

   • Choose NIH-Funded Research Login if you have NIH funding.

   • Choose General Use Login otherwise.

2. Log in with your Northwestern NetID.

3. Click the AWS account you would like to use.

4. Select the permission set you would like to use (for example: AWSAdminitratorAccess) to enter the the AWS Management Console.